How to make goals happen?

We all have goals. We want to be skinnier, be less anxious, be “normal”, have more money, etc… The list could go on and on. What is the one thing the above goals have in common? They’re HUGE! They are more like an ideal outcome.

Breaking a goal down into smaller sub-goals, not only makes them more achievable, but also helps you to stick to your goal. Procrastination and lack of motivation are two of the leading factors for people to give up or wander from their goals. And that’s a shame, as obtaining goals is tightly linked to feelings of self-worth and self-confidence.

First of all, motivation comes from within. You might be more motivated to go for a jog outside when the sun is shining, but the sun is not the motivator. The sun is a factor in making your jog less wet.

You might be more motivated to sticking to a diet plan if you see significant weight loss results, but weight loss is not the motivator. It’s a factor and a by-product of dieting.

Motivation comes from within…

Don’t wait for motivation to start moving you to achieving your goals. Start the forward movement, emotionally and with positive thoughts, and motivation will gladly join you.

So now that we’ve got that out of the way, how about setting those sub-goals. SMART goals are always an excellent way to get started. Make your goals

Specific.

Measurable.

Attainable.

Relevant.

Time Bound.

Imagine your goal is to spend more time with family and friends.

What do you need for this to happen? Contact them, call them, email them, text them

What do you need for that to happen? Grab the phone or computer and call/email them

What do you need for that to happen? Make time in my day

What do you need for that to happen? Plan it in and stick to it

Anyways, you get the point. The “What do you need for that to happen?” is a very powerful question, as it means you have to think about the steps to take in order for you to reach your goal. It is the first step in the SMART goal list (Specific).

Are the above sub-goals Measurable? I would say so. Writing down a time to call your best friend who lives in Vancouver and you haven’t spoken to in months, is a very measurable goal.

How about Attainable? In my opinion, the above sub-goals are small enough to get them done. This is also a personal matter, and you will know what feels good.

Relevant? They certainly are! Being in touch with family and friends is always relevant.

Time Bound? Yes! As I made a plan to make that phone call, there is a time-frame added to the goal.